Rough Sagre Shark

Common Name: Rough Sagre Shark

Scientific Name: Etmopterus princeps

Description

The rough sagre shark is a slim and small deep sea water shark. Both dorsal fins have an related spine at their origin. This shark is of identical colour being black or brownish black. It produces to a maximum size of around 75 cm (30 inches). The teeth on the upper jaw have 5 even edged cusps while the lower teeth have a single slanting cusp. Early reports suggested that it obsessed photophores (light producing organs), and thus referred to it as the lamp shark. However, later reports propose that it is not glowing.

Diet

The diet of rough sagre shark is unidentified.

Reproduction

Little is recognized about reproduction in this shark though development is unspecified to be ovoviviparous.

Habitat

This is a deep house animal that is frequently found at depths among 570 and 2200 meters (1870 to 7300 feet). A report of a imprison on the Scotian Shelf was at a depth of 950 meters (3100 feet).

Range

The rough sagre shark happens in both the western and eastern North Atlantic. In the western North Atlantic it is there off southern Nova Scotia to southern New England.

Unique Characteristics

• Uncertain if it has glowing photophores
• No anal fin
• Dorsal fin spines
• Thorn-like, near erect dermal denticles
• Upper teeth with 5 cusps, lower teeth slanting with single cusp